Pharmacological activities of hydroethanolic extract from Harrisia adscendens (Gürke) Britton & Rose cladodes: Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and wound healing effects.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Harrisia adscendens (Gürke) Britton & Rose is traditionally used to manage kidney problems, fever, and pain. Despite its traditional use, its pharmacological properties remain underexplored. The hydroethanolic extract (HE) of its cladodes is of particular interest given its demonstrated safety and presence of acetophenones, phenolic acids, and flavonoids.

PURPOSE: The present study evaluated the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and wound-healing activities of HE.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

HE was administered orally at 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg to male mice. Nociceptive inhibition was measured through the acetic acid-triggered writhing, tail immersion, and formalin tests. The capacity to reduce inflammation was evaluated via carrageenan-induced paw edema and peritonitis. Antipyretic effects were measured after yeast-induced hyperthermia following HE administration. Wound-healing activity was assessed using topical gels containing 5% or 10% HE on dorsal wounds.

RESULTS

HE at 200 and/or 400 mg/kg markedly reduced abdominal writhing, paw-licking time in the formalin test, and increased latency in the tail immersion test. HE (200 and 400 mg/kg) inhibited paw edema formation up to 47.5%, and reduced leukocyte migration in the peritonitis model. Levels of interleukins 2, 6 and 17 and TNF-α were decreased in the peritoneal fluid. HE induced a reduction in body temperature in the antipyretic assay. It also accelerated wound closure in the 10% formulation.

CONCLUSION

HE exhibited antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and wound-healing activities, likely due to flavonoids, acetophenones, and phenolic acids. These effects may involve modulation of inflammatory mediators and immune cell activity.